1944 United States Senate election in Oklahoma
November 7, 1944
 
Nominee Elmer Thomas William J. Otjen
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 390,851 309,222
Percentage 55.65% 44.02%
U.S. senator before election

Elmer Thomas
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Elmer Thomas
Democratic

The 1944 United States Senate election in Oklahoma took place on November 7, 1944. Incumbent Democratic Senator Elmer Thomas ran for re-election to a fourth term. Thomas once again faced a stiff challenge in the Democratic primary, this time from Congressman Wesley E. Disney and Lieutenant Governor James E. Berry. As was the case in 1938, Thomas won renomination only with a narrow plurality. In the general election, he faced former State Senator William J. Otjen, the 1942 Republican nominee for Governor. Though Thomas's performance was much reduced compared to six years prior, he still defeated Otjen by a wide margin.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Elmer Thomas (inc.) 85,672 36.30%
Democratic Wesley E. Disney 64,322 33.75%
Democratic James E. Berry 62,244 26.37%
Democratic Elmer Fraker 5,810 2.46%
Democratic Fletcher S. Riley 4,835 2.05%
Democratic A. F. Shaw 4,786 2.03%
Democratic Dan Nelson 2,725 1.15%
Democratic Charles West 2,304 0.98%
Democratic Lily Allen Lasley 1,963 0.83%
Democratic Lattie Hughes 138 0.57%
Total votes 235,999 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • William J. Otjen, former State Senator, 1942 Republican nominee for Governor[2]
  • Pat W. Murphy, Cushing clergyman[2]
  • Harry O. Glasser, former State Senator, 1938 Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate[3]
  • O. O. Owens
  • Frank A. Anderson
  • Fred E. Pickard
  • John M. Claypool
  • S. M. Stauffer
  • Sim L. Liles

Results

Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William J. Otjen 21,970 50.53%
Republican Pat W. Murphy 7,340 16.88%
Republican Harry O. Glasser 6,169 14.19%
Republican O. O. Owens 2,791 6.42%
Republican Frank A. Anderson 2,009 4.62%
Republican Fred E. Pickard 1,137 2.61%
Republican John M. Claypool 887 2.04%
Republican S. M. Stauffer 811 1.87%
Republican Sim L. Liles 368 0.85%
Total votes 43,482 100.00%

General election

Results

1944 United States Senate election in Oklahoma[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Elmer Thomas (inc.) 390,851 55.65% -9.72%
Republican William J. Otjen 309,222 44.02% +10.11%
Independent Paul V. Beck 1,128 0.16% —
Independent T. B. Williams 674 0.10% —
Independent Paul R. Nagle 519 0.07% —
Majority 81,629 11.62% -19.84%
Turnout 702,394
Democratic hold

References

  1. 1 2 3 "1934-1938 Election Results" (PDF). Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "GOP Senatorial Scramble Seen: Lew Wentz Leaves Field Wide Open". Okmulgee Daily Times. Okmulgee, Okla. February 10, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Glasser First GOP Candidate". Okmulgee Daily Times. Okmulgee, Okla. February 17, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved June 14, 2021.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.